A new species of venomous snake has been found in Northern Australia.

New venomous snake found in Australia

New venomous snake found in Australia

Biologists from the University of Queensland discovered the previously unheard of bandy-bandy serpentine on a remote peninsula in the wilderness.

The reptile was discovered while scientists were conducting a sea snake survey.

The creature is small and narrow and its scales are black with white stripes, and contains deadly venom.

Bryan Fry, a professor at the University of Queensland, commented: ''Bandy-bandy is a burrowing snake, so Freek Vonk from the Naturalis Museum and I were surprised to find it on a concrete block by the sea,''

''We later discovered that the snake had slithered over from a pile of bauxite rubble waiting to be loaded onto a ship.''